George Vanzandt, Pvt.

by | Feb 28, 2020 | Cluggage's Rangers - Black's Company, Historic Figures, Pensioner, Rangers, Soldiers

1752-1840

He was born on September 22, 1752, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He lived in Canoe Valley, Barree Township at the time of his enlistment.

He served under Captain Samuel Davis in 1776 at Princeton. Although he arrived with Colonel Piper, during the battle he was with Colonel Smith when they took Bennett’s Island. He spent much of that winter in the east. He came back home in March.

In 1777 he served under Captain Black who was under Colonel Piper. He served that summer. The next (1778) spring he served under Captain Black who was under Major Cluggage.

In 1779 he enlisted under Captain William Simonton. 9 months service. In 1780 he served again in this unit.

Married Sarah Johnson in 1783.

In 1833 he received his pension. In 1835 he passed away.

He is buried in the Presbyterian Cemetary, Belleville PA.

“Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,042, George Vanzant, Penn.” Archives.gov, 2025, catalog.archives.gov/id/111461898. Accessed 1 July 2025.

“Pvt George VanZandt (1752-1840) – Find a Grave…” Findagrave.com, 2025, www.findagrave.com/memorial/59593802/george-vanzandt. Accessed 1 July 2025.

Thomas Coleman, Ensign

by | Feb 27, 2020 | Cluggage's Rangers - Black's Company, Historic Figures, Pensioner, Rangers, Soldiers

The Coleman brothers have many tales that surround them. It was said that they came to the area after the death of their younger brother in an attack by Native Americans while making Syrup in the mountains.

Thomas Served as an Ensign in the Rifle Regiment and acted as a guide and spy. In his pension application he states that in November of 1777 while scouting he discovered tracks of a parcel of Indians pursuing the path from Kittanning toward Frankstown; that he followed until he found them in the act of making their fires; that he immediately warned the inhabitants of the settlement of their danger who made their escape. In 1778 he was chosen to go to Kittanning to see if the Tories had joined forces with the Native Americans who lived there. In 1778 he served at Fort Roberdeau, along with John Moore, who would later be his commander.

In 1780 he received a commission from the Supreme Executive Council to serve as an Ensign under Captain John Moore. He also served under Colonel Jack, Captain Black, Colonel Piper and many others. They ranged to Hannastown and at times as far as Fort Pitt.

He mentions eating jerked beef in his pension, and running out during the scout to Kittaning.

Served at the Battle of Frankstown.

Born in Cumberland County in 1748. He spent most of his life in Logan Township. He died in 1837 and is buried at Grandview Cemetery in Altoona. Phebe was his wife’s name.

“Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 23,579, Thomas Coleman, Penn.” Archives.gov, 2025, catalog.archives.gov/id/54267602. Accessed 1 July 2025.

“Thomas Coleman (1748-1837) – Find a Grave…” Findagrave.com, 2024, www.findagrave.com/memorial/12790713/thomas-coleman. Accessed 1 July 2025.

John Lane, Pvt.

by | Feb 26, 2020 | Cluggage's Rangers - Thomas Clugage's Company, Historic Figures, Pensioner, Rangers, Soldiers

John Lane was born in Baltimore, in 1756. His family moved to the Huntingdon area when he was 9 years old.

In April 1779, he enlisted in Cluggage’s Rangers and served under Lt. David Lloyd. He served in the Huntingdon area, protecting the region until the harvest. He manned Fort Roberdeau in Sinking Valley acting as a ranger, helping protect the lead mines. After his 9-month enlistment under Cluggage, he reenlisted under Captain William Phillips.

Lane then served 3 months as a “Scout” or “Wood Ranger” in Phillips Rangers. These men would scout for 4 days of every week, watching for signs of any enemy activity. The most common incursions were those of Native Americans who had taken the side of the British. The Rangers were also engaged regularly as escorts between fortified positions. The unit was disbanded because of the deaths of so many rangers in the region that continuing
was not feasible.

In his account, he does not mention the time he was shot, which is mentioned in other’s accounts of the period, including by Jacob Ripley. This does not seem to be uncommon with those wounded while in service.

After the war, he married the daughter of a Quaker family and owned a copper mine in Frederick Md. where he was buried.

According to Soldiers of Blair County by Floyd G. Hoenstine, “Enlisted about first day of April 1779, for nine months in Captain Thomas Cluggage’s Company, Bedford County Rangers’ stationed at Huntington at Fort Roberdeau, Sinking Valley, to protect the lead mines. Enlisted following Spring in Captain William Phillip’s Company, Bedford County Rangers and served six months. Born the 22nd of February 1756 in Baltimore County, Maryland, and resided Broad Top Township, Bedford County, in 1840.”

“Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 2042, for John Lane, Pennsylvania.” Archives.gov, 2025, catalog.archives.gov/id/196148150. Accessed 1 July 2025.

Theodore Pridemore, Sgt.

by | Feb 26, 2020 | Cluggage's Rangers - Thomas Clugage's Company, Historic Figures, Pensioner, Rangers, Soldiers

Theodore Pridmore was born on April 17, 1755, in Princeton, New Jersey. Theodore Pridmore served in the military in 1776 when he was 21 years old in Frankstown. He served at Fort Roberdeau in 1778.

Brother of Jonathan Pridemore, he served as a recruitment sergeant for Fort Roberdeau

He married Mary Guthrie in 1779 in Pennsylvania. He lived in Pennsylvania until the late 1780s.

In 1790 he moved to South Carolina, then moved from there to Virginia. He died in 1839 in Lawrence, Indiana, having lived a long life of 84 years, and was buried in Shoals, Indiana.